405nm in solid state, RGB laser show engine?

[sarbanes]

Now that 1Watt RGB (solid state, DPSS & diode) are affordable, might it not be advantageous to complement such systems with a high power Blu-ray beam, for added sheen (blue end), and overall fluorescence? Simply as a way to make what is already very good, even better. The amount of pure violet added (relatively imperceptible) could mathematically be subtracted out of the RGB, so as to not have any effect on color balance on non fluorescent materials (not that it would make such a huge difference). So it would be just like having a nice 1Watt RGB light show, except with some nice fluorescence potential. 405, 473, 650, & 532 all in appropriate mix limits.

 

[andy_con]

sadly dacs only have output for RGB there is no spare for additional lasers.

making another output for 405nm is a massive job

 

[sarbanes]

sadly dacs only have output for RGB there is no spare for additional lasers.

making another output for 405nm is a massive job

Would it be possible to combine 405 into the 473 channel then, and just have the "blue" output be a combination of 473+405nm's, into one channel (treated as one)?

 

[andy_con]

yes

depending on the driver for each laser

 

[sarbanes]

That could be a good compromise then, especially since the 405 will have minimal effect on distorting the blue white balance. even with 473/405 composited, one could just slightly reduce the floating amplitudes of the 473 and 650 just enough to make up for the added 405 (for the pureist!)

 

[andy_con]

if you use a die4laser drive you should not need a buffer

 

[MarioMaster]

just double check the mirrors for your galvos, the ones that came with my scanners (scanpro 20 set) do not reflect 405nm very well (maybe 20-40% reflective for each mirror)

 

[flogged]

That could be a good compromise then, especially since the 405 will have minimal effect on distorting the blue white balance. even with 473/405 composited, one could just slightly reduce the floating amplitudes of the 473 and 650 just enough to make up for the added 405 (for the pureist!)

More than just adding some fluorescence, 405nm changes (enlarges) the gamut of colors that can be displayed. At least if you were using purely 405nm for blue. Mixing them is likely a good way to preserve the white balance while adding some pop to the overall color balance.

 

[andy_con]

just double check the mirrors for your galvos, the ones that came with my scanners (scanpro 20 set) do not reflect 405nm very well (maybe 20-40% reflective for each mirror)

you can buy new mirrors, they are just not cheap

 

[sarbanes]

I bet its not too long now before we see 405 incorporated into otherwise RGB scanning laser shows. That would be a nice edge, add a nice sheen to the high end.

 

[andy_con]

dont think so, theres no gain from putting a 405nm into a projector?

 

[pwnstar]

Can you mix RGB to make violet light? or will it not work cause 473nm is the lowest wavelenth it goes.

 

[andy_con]

you can make purple/pink but it wont be 405nm

 

[flogged]

Can you mix RGB to make violet light? or will it not work cause 473nm is the lowest wavelenth it goes.

You can approximate violet, but 405nm is not a color accurately reproduced using RGB. It's not within the 'gamut' of displayable colors, which is one reason many cameras have trouble taking pictures of 405nm, making it look blue.

The three dominant wavelengths chosen for the RGB primaries determine the size of the color 'space'.. see:

http://dx.sheridan.com/advisor/cmyk_color.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB_color_space

 

[pwnstar]

oh ok, thanks for the links.

 

[sarbanes]

So, some think it wouldn't be worth it, but others (including myself), think it could add nice "pop", or sheen, and certainly couldn't hurt. *Especially* when the projection reflects off fluorescent surfaces. I'm wondering weather (even without fluorescence), the otherwise not very noticeable 405nm might synergistically come through when other wavelengths interact with it? Almost like with sound, and how there are ways you can make the bass sound much bigger by adding a certain high frequency component?